Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Meeting John McCain

Having lived in Phoenix virtually all my life, and with John McCain being one of our senators, it was inevitable I would have had some chance sightings of him over the years. Now that there is a strong possibility he will become our next president, it's fun to look back on those sightings.

In about 1984 or 1985, I was in downtown Phoenix for a parade. After the parade was over and the crowd was scattering to leave, I was walking down the sidewalk and up ahead, I saw then-Congressman McCain, his wife Cindy, and their baby daughter Meghan in a stroller. The congressman was pushing the stroller, and they were waiting, all by themselves, at a corner for the light to change so they could cross the street. Just an ordinary couple with their baby, and nobody was noticing them or paying any attention to them. I recognized them and thought to myself, "Oh, there's Congressman McCain and his wife and their baby." Just an ordinary moment, but now I think it's safe to say they will never be able to stand unnoticed and alone on any street corner ever again!

In 1992, when George Bush Sr. was running for re-election, Ronald Reagan came to downtown Phoenix to Patriots Square to give a campaign speech for him (I believe it was one of President Reagan's last public appearances). I went downtown to see President Reagan. McCain, by now a senator, was there, and was working the crowd, shaking hands. He came by where I was seated and shook my hand. To think that on that particular afternoon, I may have been seeing, not only a former president, but a future president as well!

Fun memories as the campaign continues....

Geri Ann

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